One other thing to keep in mind - don't forget you'll need to complete a SAR7 form after 6 months and recertification after a year to keep your benefits going. I learned this the hard way when my benefits suddenly stopped because I missed my SAR7 deadline. They don't always send reminders, so mark your calendar now for these important deadlines!

Welcome to CalFresh! What you experienced is completely normal and happens to most new recipients. The extra amount you received ($641 vs your monthly $424) was intentional - it included your prorated September benefits plus your full October benefits in one payment. Since you applied mid-September, you got partial benefits for those remaining days in September, plus the full October amount all at once. Your next regular payment of $424 should come in November on the same date of the month as your first payment (likely around the 20th based on when you received your first deposit). Don't worry about paying anything back - this is just how the system works for new applicants!

wait so we NOT supposed to report the tax refund thingy on the SAR7?????? i already did on mine last month cuz i thought we had to report all money we get

I'm going through something similar right now! Got my Middle Class Tax Refund ($600) about 3 weeks ago and my CalFresh benefits just dropped by $80 this month. I haven't reported anything new and my SAR7 isn't due until June. Reading through all these comments, it sounds like there might be some kind of system glitch happening with the tax refunds even though they're supposed to be exempt. I'm definitely going to call tomorrow - thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! It's really helpful to know I'm not the only one dealing with this.

UPDATE: Finally got through to my worker! Used the Claimyr service that was recommended here and it worked perfectly - got connected to a real person in about 30 minutes. I faxed in my SAR7 form and they're processing it today. Worker said I should see my January benefits on my EBT card within 3 business days! So relieved and grateful for all the helpful advice here. Will update again when the money actually hits my card.

So glad you got it sorted out! This is exactly why I always recommend people keep a copy of their SAR7 form somewhere safe and take a photo of it when they submit it. The county workers are actually pretty helpful once you can reach them, but getting through that phone system is like trying to win the lottery. For anyone else reading this - another tip is to call right at 8am when they open, you have a much better chance of getting through before the lines get jammed up.

Just to clarify some misinformation I'm seeing in comments: The supplemental benefits were part of a temporary program with a defined end date. The notices were sent out in March 2025 to all recipients. If you didn't receive one, it could be due to an outdated address in the system. Make sure your contact information is current in CalSAWS. Your regular CalFresh benefits are not affected by this change. If you're experiencing hardship, you might qualify for an emergency allotment by contacting your county office and explaining your situation. They can sometimes issue emergency benefits in cases of demonstrated need.

I'm in the same boat as everyone else here - really bummed about losing that extra payment! For those asking about getting help right now, I wanted to mention that many local food banks have increased their distributions recently because they know people are dealing with this benefit reduction. The LA Regional Food Bank has several locations doing extra weekend distributions through the end of May. Also, if you have kids, check if your school district is doing any spring break meal programs - some are extending them because of the CalFresh changes. It's not much but every little bit helps when you're trying to stretch that grocery budget!

Update: I finally got through to my county office! My worker confirmed what everyone here said about the emergency allotments ending. She helped me update my expenses (my rent went up and I had never reported my full utility costs before). My benefit amount will increase to $422 next month, which is still less than before but better than $337. Thanks everyone for the help and information!

I'm dealing with the same situation - my benefits dropped from $580 to $294 for my household of 2. It's really helpful reading everyone's experiences here. I had no idea the emergency allotments were temporary, and like others mentioned, I never received any notice about this change. I'm going to try updating my expenses since my utilities have gone up significantly this winter. Has anyone had success getting their county office to backdate expense changes, or do they only apply going forward? Also wondering if there are any other food assistance programs I should look into to help bridge this gap.